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Plant Biol (Stuttg) 2005; 7(1): 79-90
DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-830478
Research Paper

Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart KG · New York

Molecular Relationships in Encephalartos (Zamiaceae, Cycadales) Based on Nucleotide Sequences of Nuclear ITS 1&2, Rbcl, and Genomic ISSR Fingerprinting

J. Treutlein1 , P. Vorster2 , M. Wink1
  • 1Institut für Pharmazie und Molekulare Biotechnologie, Universität Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 364, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
  • 2Department of Botany and Zoology, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, 7602 Matieland, South Africa
Further Information

Publication History

Received: April 19, 2004

Accepted: October 20, 2004

Publication Date:
21 January 2005 (online)

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Abstract

The cycad genus Encephalartos is restricted to Africa and is threatened with extinction in most of its range. Total DNA was extracted from 51, i.e., 78 %, of the described species of Encephalartos. The accessions were sampled from the furthest western occurrence of the genus in Nigeria, via Sudan and Uganda, to southern South Africa. The sequences of nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer regions 1 and 2 (ITS 1&2), the chloroplast encoded rbcL gene, and ISSR genomic fingerprinting were employed to resolve the molecular history and the relationships within the genus. Sequence alignment, as well as ISSR fingerprinting, data show low genetic variation among all analysed accessions, indicating diversification within the Pliocene/Pleistocene. ITS 1&2 data agree well with morphological and geographical characters and resolved three major genetic clusters with overlapping distribution ranges in eastern South Africa. This area, that contains the largest diversity of genotypes of Encephalartos, may have served as a Pliocene/Pleistocene refugium.

Key words

Encephalartos - phylogeny - ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase - ribosomal nuclear internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) - inter simple sequence repeat PCR (ISSR-PCR)

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M. Wink

Institut für Pharmazie und Molekulare Biotechnologie
Universität Heidelberg

Im Neuenheimer Feld 364

69120 Heidelberg

Germany

Email: wink@uni-hd.de

Editor: F. Salamini